Lawsuit against Waterloo LRT is abandoned

An anti-rail citizens coalition has abandoned its legal challenge against Ion light rail transit development in Ontario's Region of Waterloo, which includes the municipalities of Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge.

The group, Coalition Stop Waterloo LRT Inc., said Ion development violated planning and environmental assessment law, filing an injunction against the project . A Superior Court judge dismissed that request last March.

Groundbreaking for Ion is scheduled for this Friday, June 27, 2014. The C$1.9 billion (US$1.7 billion) design, build, operate, and maintenance (DBOM) plan was awarded last March to the GrandLinq consortium. Ion will employ Bombardier Flexity Freedom light rail vehicles, similar to those being used on Toronto's outer LRT (non-streetcar) lines.

Waterloo businessman Jay Aissa, who founded the coalition, says he has yet to decide whether to run for local office this October, and vowed to continue challenging the project. Aissa had urged work on Ion to be postponed until after the muncipal election.